JESUS’ ATTITUDE TOWARD HIS BIBLE!
Matthew 5:17-18
INTRODUCTION: What was our Lord’s attitude toward the Bible? Did Jesus use the Bible? Did our Lord know God’s Word? Did Jesus ever quote the Word of God? Most of us in this church have settled the question in the affirmative that we believe the Bible is God’s Word. We believe our Lord Jesus is God Himself and man, and His attitude toward the Word of God is very authoritative: Matthew 5:17-18.
I. JESUS AFFIRMED THE INFALLIBILITY OF THE SCRIPTURES!
The Bible our Lord used is the same Old Testament we have today. The thirty-nine books we have in our Old Testament were also in the Bible Jesus used and Jesus said He did not come to abolish the Old Testament law but to fulfill it: Matthew 5:17-18 KJV. Jesus also said: Luke 21:33; Matthew 5:19-20. The Pharisees only kept the Law outwardly. They went through the motions of the Law without keeping the spirit of the Law. In Christ we are the very righteousness of God: 2 Corinthians 5:21.
II. JESUS ACKNOWLEDED THE DIVINE AUTHORITY OF SCRIPTURE!
Notice please, that Jesus acknowledged the divine authority of Scripture. Jesus said: John 5:39-40. Jesus told the Pharisees that they did not know the Scriptures. Jesus knew His Bible! Jesus said: “IT is written!” Matthew 4:1-11; Matthew 11:10; Isaiah 40:3. Our Lord Jesus testified to the authority of the Word of God: Matthew 21:13; Mark 12:10; Psalm 118:22. Jesus would not have pointed people to the Bible had He not believed it was the Word of God: Mark 12:18-27. Jesus said that those who die physically are not dead spiritually but are very much alive: Luke 16:19-31; Exodus 3:6.
III. THE LORD JESUS ACKNOWLEDGED THE WORD OF GOD AS OUR OFFENSIVE WEAPON IN SPIRITUAL WARFARE!
Our Lord used the Word of God in spiritual warfare against Satan in the wilderness: Matthew 4:3; Deuteronomy 8:3; Matthew 4:5-7; Deuteronomy 6:16. This is the exact way you and I should resist the devil. Ephesians 6:10-18. Matthew 4:8-10; Deuteronomy 6:13; Romans 8:31-39. We are to use the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God and the shield of faith, which is putting our trust in the Word of God. Jesus said the Book of Genesis was written by Moses! Matthew 19:8-10. If our Lord Jesus believed the Bible is the Word of God, and Jesus is truly God then you and I should also believe the Bible is the Word of God! If Jesus used the Bible in spiritual warfare, then how much more important is it for you I to use our Bibles for spiritual warfare.